The Edo State Police Command has rescued an abducted cattle dealer, Mister Peter Balogun, popularly known as “Oga Peter”, following an intensive intelligence-led operation in the Imoga Forest and surrounding areas.
Balogun was kidnapped on July 7th along the Igarra–Auchi Expressway.
A statement by the Command on Thursday said the Police Commissioner deployed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Innocent Nkeamatara, to lead a reinforcement team comprising operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Violent Crime Response Unit and the Police Drone Unit.
The operation also received support from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who approved the deployment of a police helicopter to provide aerial surveillance throughout the rescue mission.
Police say the breakthrough came during intensified clearance operations in the Imoga Forest on Wednesday, when sustained ground assaults, drone surveillance and helicopter patrols forced the kidnappers to abandon the victim and flee deeper into the forest.
During debriefing, the rescued cattle dealer reportedly told investigators that the constant presence of security operatives and repeated helicopter patrols created panic among the kidnappers, forcing them to flee and leave him behind.
The victim has since received medical attention and has been reunited with his family.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has ordered the expansion of clearance operations to other identified forests and criminal hideouts across the state to dismantle kidnapping camps, recover weapons and arrest fleeing suspects.